the senate armed services committee will decide this afternoon on whether to advance chuck hagel's nomination. hagel sat through a bruising hearing back on janaury 31st. republicans went after him over his past statements and votes on israel, iran, iraq, and nuclear weapons. despite g-o-p criticism, the democratic-controlled committee is expected to vote in favor of him today. the entire senate could vote on his nomination either tomorrow or thursday. the vatican is dismissing reports that pope benedict the 16th's decision to step down was linked to a medical intervention to replace the battery in his pacemaker. this is the first time the vatican has mentioned a papal pacemaker which was installed years before benedict became pope. the pope blames it on old age and declining helath and the vatican says no specific ailment forced him resign already there's lots of guessing about who will succeed pope benedict when he resigns. many have suggested that the growth of catholicism in africa justifies a black pope. others say the strength of the church in latin america calls for a hispanic pope. dra